Mantan Moreland (September 3, 1902 – September 28, 1973) was an American actor and comedian most popular in the 1930s and 1940s. He starred in numerous films. His daughter Marcella Moreland appeared as a child actress in several films.

Early years

He was born in

Monroe, Louisiana Monroe (historically french: Poste-du-Ouachita) is the eighth-largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and parish seat of Ouachita Parish. With a 2020 census-tabulated population of 47,702, it is the principal city of the Monroe metropolita ...

, to Frank, an old-time

Dixieland Dixieland jazz, also referred to as traditional jazz, hot jazz, or simply Dixieland, is a style of jazz based on the music that developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century. The 1917 recordings by the Original Dixieland Jass Band ( ...

bandleader A bandleader is the leader of a music group such as a rock or pop band or jazz quartet. The term is most commonly used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or ...

, and Marcella. Moreland began acting by the time he was an adolescent; some sources say he ran away to join a

minstrel show The minstrel show, also called minstrelsy, was an American form of racist theatrical entertainment developed in the early 19th century. Each show consisted of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music performances that depicted people spe ...

in 1910, at age eight, but his daughter told Moreland's biographer she doubts this date is correct. She and other sources agree it is more likely he left home when he was fourteen.

Career

After "nearly ten years of working the small, small time", Moreland gained an opportunity in 1927 when he was hired as a comedian in ''Connie's Inn Frolics'' in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street (Manhattan), 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and 110th Street (Manhattan), ...

. He next worked in the musical revue ''

Blackbirds of 1928 ''Blackbirds of 1928'' was a hit Broadway musical revue that starred Adelaide Hall, Bill Bojangles Robinson, Tim Moore and Aida Ward, with music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. It contained the hit songs "Diga Diga Do", the duo's ...

'', which ran for 518 performances. By the late 1920s, Moreland had made his way through

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

, working with various shows and revues, performing on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

and touring Europe. Following the death of

Aubrey Lyles Aubrey Lee Lyles (8 January 1884 – 28 July 1932), sometimes credited as A. L. Lyles, was an American vaudeville performer, playwright, songwriter, and lyricist. He appeared with Flournoy E. Miller as Miller and Lyles as a popular African-A ...

, the half of

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

vaudeville act Miller and Lyles, in 1932, Flournoy Miller asked Moreland to team up with him for personal appearances. With Moreland, Miller performed comedy routines he had done with Lyles. The pair performed together in the one-reel short film '' That's the Spirit'' (1933) as a pair of night watchmen and for stage productions by Miller, ''Dixie Goes High Hat'' (1938) and ''Hollywood Revue'' (1939). Moreland appeared in low-budget " race movies" aimed at African American audiences, including ''

One Dark Night ''One Dark Night'' (also known as ''Entity Force'') is a 1982 American supernatural horror film directed by Tom McLoughlin, and starring Meg Tilly, E. G. Daily, and Adam West. The film follows three teenagers sent to a mausoleum for the night as ...

'' (1939) with Bette Treadville, ''

Lucky Ghost ''Lucky Ghost'' is a 1942 American film directed by William Beaudine. The film is a sequel to the 1941 film '' Mr. Washington Goes to Town''. The film is also known as ''Lady Luck'' (new American title). Plot Washington Delaware Jones has neve ...

'' (1941), ''

Mr. Washington Goes to Town ''Mr. Washington Goes to Town'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine and Jed Buell, and starring F. E. Miller, Mantan Moreland and Maceo Bruce Sheffield. The film was marketed primarily to black audiences and written and fil ...

'' (1941) and '' Mantan Runs for Mayor'' (1946), again with Miller. As his comedic talents became recognized, Moreland appeared in larger productions. At the height of his career, Moreland received steady work from major film studios, as well as from independent producers who starred Moreland in low-budget, all-African American-cast comedies.

Monogram Pictures Monogram Pictures Corporation was an American film studio that produced mostly low-budget films between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram was among the smaller studios i ...

signed Moreland to appear opposite

Frankie Darro Frankie Darro (born Frank Johnson, Jr.; December 22, 1917 – December 25, 1976) was an American actor and later in his career a stuntman. He began his career as a child actor in silent films, progressed to lead roles and co-starring roles ...

in the studio's popular action pictures. Moreland, with his bulging eyes and cackling laugh, quickly became a favorite supporting player in Hollywood movies. In 1940's '' Drums of the Desert'', Moreland played a more serious role as the sergeant in charge of a squad of

Senegalese Tirailleurs The Senegalese Tirailleurs (french: Tirailleurs Sénégalais) were a corps of colonial infantry in the French Army. They were initially recruited from Senegal, French West Africa and subsequently throughout Western, Central and Eastern Africa: t ...

in French colonial Algeria alongside

Ralph Byrd Ralph Byrd (April 22, 1909 – August 18, 1952) was an American actor. He was most famous for playing the comic strip character Dick Tracy on screen, in serials, films and television. Early life and career The son of George and Edna ...

, known for appearing in Republic Pictures'

Dick Tracy ''Dick Tracy'' is an American comic strip featuring Dick Tracy (originally Plainclothes Tracy), a tough and intelligent police detective created by Chester Gould. It made its debut on Sunday, October 4, 1931, in the ''Detroit Mirror'', and it ...

serials. He is perhaps best known for his role as

chauffeur A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine. Originally, such drivers were often personal employees of the vehicle owner, but this has changed to speciali ...

Birmingham Brown in Monogram's

Charlie Chan Charlie Chan is a fictional Honolulu police detective created by author Earl Derr Biggers for a series of mystery novels. Biggers loosely based Chan on Hawaiian detective Chang Apana. The benevolent and heroic Chan was conceived as an alter ...

series. During the 1940s, he teamed up with Ben Carter as his straight man, touring America in vaudeville and making personal appearances in the nation's movie theaters. Moreland and Carter performed comedy routines the former learned when he became Flournoy Miller's understudy in the 1930s, including the famous "indefinite talk" routine, in which they would speak to one another, start a sentence only to be interrupted by the other, yet they understand each other perfectly. Moreland and Carter had developed an excellent rapport and impeccable timing. During World War II, they performed at the then segregated

USO The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

's such as one in

Riverside, California Riverside is a city in and the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States, in the Inland Empire metropolitan area. It is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. It is the most populous city in the Inland Empire an ...

. Their version of "indefinite talk" can be seen in two Charlie Chan pictures, ''

The Scarlet Clue ''The Scarlet Clue'' is a 1945 American film directed by Phil Rosen.Scarlet Clue, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 12, Iss. 133, (Jan 1, 1945): 155. The film is also known as ''Charlie Chan in the Scarlet Clue'' (American informal title) ...

''For an example of the "indefinite talk" routine, see ''

'' at 39 minutes 25 seconds. and '' Dark Alibi'', as well as in the big-budget Universal musical ''

Bowery to Broadway ''Bowery to Broadway'' is a 1944 American film starring Maria Montez, Jack Oakie, and Susanna Foster. Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan also had a small specialty act, and it was the only film they were in together where they didn't have a name or ...

''.For an example of the "indefinite talk" routine, see '' Dark Alibi'' at 19 minutes 25 seconds,. The partnership lasted until Carter died in 1946. Moreland and

Nipsey Russell Julius "Nipsey" Russell (September 15, 1918 – October 2, 2005)Nipsey J. Russell, born September 15, 1918, died October 2, 2005. Social Security Administration. ''Social Security Death Index'' ( Death Master File).U.S. Census, January 1, 1920, ...

would performed this routine in two all-black variety films in 1955. During the second half of the 1940s, the public attitudes toward the portrayals of African Americans in the cinema had changed. When filmmakers began to reassess roles given to black actors, Moreland's characterization in his film appearances was considered demeaning to the African-American community, resulting in his being offered fewer roles in the 1950s. Financial difficulties forced Moreland to tour making personal appearances during the late 1940s and the early 1950s with Bud Harris, Tim Moore,

Redd Foxx John Elroy Sanford (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991), better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Foxx gained success with his raunchy nightclub act before and during the civil rights movement. ...

and Nipsey Russell as his straight men. Mantan's biographer, Michael Price, states Moreland was briefly considered as a possible addition to the

Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeared ...

. After

Shemp Howard Samuel Horwitz (March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955), known professionally as Shemp Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's thick Lithuanian Yiddish, Litvak accent. He is ...

died of a sudden heart attack on November 22, 1955, at age 60,

Moe Howard Moses Harry Horwitz (June 19, 1897 – May 4, 1975), known professionally as Moe Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He is best known as the leader of The Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television ...

was said had been observing Moreland's act for years and offered Moreland a chance to join the act as the new "third stooge" at the behest of his late brother Shemp. Moreland was reported to be enthusiastic about the offer, but

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

insisted on a comedian already under contract.

Joe Besser Joe Besser (August 12, 1907 – March 1, 1988) was an American actor, comedian and musician, known for his impish humor and wimpy characters. He is best known for his brief stint as a member of The Three Stooges in movie short subjects of 1957� ...

, one of a few comedians still making comedy shorts at the studio, was eventually recruited to join the act in 1956.

Later career and death

Moreland's last featured role was in the darkly humorous horror film ''

Spider Baby ''Spider Baby: or, the Maddest Story Ever Told'' is a 1967 American black comedy horror film, written and directed by Jack Hill. It stars Lon Chaney Jr. as Bruno, the chauffeur and caretaker of three orphaned siblings who suffer from "Merrye Sy ...

'' (1968, filmed in 1964), which was patterned after

Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a ...

's thrillers of the 1940s. After suffering a stroke in the early 1960s, Moreland took on a few minor comedic roles, working with

Bill Cosby William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and media personality. He made significant contributions to American and African-American culture, and is well known in the United States for his eccentric ...

Moms Mabley Loretta Mary Aiken (March 19, 1894 – May 23, 1975), known by her stage name Jackie "Moms" Mabley, was an American stand-up comedian and actress. Mabley began her career on the theater stage in the 1920s and became a veteran entertainer of the ...

and

Carl Reiner Carl Reiner (March 20, 1922 – June 29, 2020) was an American actor, stand-up comedian, director, screenwriter, and author whose career spanned seven decades. He was the recipient of many awards and honors, including 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, ...

. He later partnered with Roosevelt Livingood to form the comedic team of Mantan and Livingood, which produced a number of recorded albums. Moreland died of a

cerebral hemorrhage Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), also known as cerebral bleed, intraparenchymal bleed, and hemorrhagic stroke, or haemorrhagic stroke, is a sudden bleeding into the tissues of the brain, into its ventricles, or into both. It is one kind of bleed ...

in 1973 in Hollywood, and is interred at

Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 10621 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood and Burbank, California. The cemetery has an entrance called the Portal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation that is the final resting place for aviation ...

North Hollywood, Los Angeles North Hollywood is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, the El Portal Theatre, several art galleries, and the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. The North ...

, California.

Recognition

In 2004, Moreland was inducted into the

National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum, formerly the National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame, is a museum and hall of fame in Fort Worth, Texas. History The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum was founded F ...

Hall of Fame.

Selected filmography

* '' That's the Spirit'' (1933) as Night Watchman * ''

The Green Pastures ''The Green Pastures'' is a play written in 1930 by Marc Connelly adapted from ''Ol' Man Adam an' His Chillun'' (1928), a collection of stories written by Roark Bradford. The play was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1930. It had th ...

'' (1936) as Angel Removing Hat (uncredited) * '' Harlem on the Prairie'' (1937) as Mistletoe * ''

Spirit of Youth ''Spirit of Youth'' is a 1938 boxing film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring then-heavyweight world champion Joe Louis in a story with similarities to his own real life. (According to IMDb, the Spanish title is ''La vida de Joe Louis'', w ...

'' (1938) as Creighton 'Crickie' Fitzgibbons * ''

Two-Gun Man from Harlem ''Two Gun Man from Harlem'' is a 1938 American contemporary Western film directed by Richard C. Kahn. It was produced by Merit Pictures, distributed by Sack Amusement Enterprises and featured an all-African-American cast. Plot summary A man wr ...

'' (1938) as Bill Blake * '' Frontier Scout'' (1938) as Norris Family Butler * ''

Next Time I Marry ''Next Time I Marry'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Garson Kanin and written by John Twist and Helen Meinardi. The film stars Lucille Ball, James Ellison, Lee Bowman, Granville Bates and Mantan Moreland. The film was released on ...

'' (1938) as Tilby * ''

Gang Smashers ''Gang Smashers'', also released as ''Gun Moll'', is an American film released in 1938. It features an African American cast. Leo C. Popkin directed the Million Dollar Productions film from a screenplay by Ralph Cooper. The University of South C ...

'' (1938) as Gloomy * ''

There's Always a Woman ''There's Always a Woman'' is a 1938 American comedy mystery film directed by Alexander Hall and starring Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas. Seeing the potential for a series, Columbia Pictures quickly made a sequel, ''There's That Woman Again'' ...

'' (1939) as Porter (uncredited) * ''

Tell No Tales ''Tell No Tales'' is the third studio album by the Norwegian hard rock band TNT. It was the best-selling TNT album in the U.S., according to their bass guitarist Morty Black. This album diverted from the power metal style of '' Knights of the ...

'' (1939) as Sport Black at the Wake (uncredited) * ''

Riders of the Frontier ''Riders of the Frontier'', also known as ''Ridin' the Frontier'', is a 1939 American Western film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and starring Tex Ritter and Jack Rutherford.Pitts p.279 It is a remake of the 1936 film ''The Cattle Thief''. ...

'' (1939) as Chappie (Cookie in credits) * '' Irish Luck'' (1939) as Jefferson * ''

'' (1939) as Samson Brown * '' The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' (1940) as Robbins (uncredited) * ''

City of Chance ''City of Chance'' is a 1940 American crime drama film directed by Ricardo Cortez and written by John Larkin and Barry Trivers. The film stars Lynn Bari, C. Aubrey Smith, Donald Woods and Amanda Duff. The film was released on January 13, 1940, b ...

'' (1940) as Anxious Man (uncredited) * ''

Chasing Trouble ''Chasing Trouble'' is a 1940 American comedy-drama film directed by Howard Bretherton, from Monogram Pictures. Plot summary Jimmy "Mr. Cupid" O’Brien (Frankie Darro) and Thomas H. Jefferson (Mantan Moreland) are making deliveries for th ...

'' (1940) as Thomas H. Jefferson * ''

Millionaire Playboy ''Millionaire Playboy'' originally entitled ''Playboy No. 2'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins from a screenplay by Bert Granet and Charles E. Roberts, based upon Granet's story. Produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pi ...

'' (1940) as Bellhop * ''

Viva Cisco Kid ''Viva Cisco Kid'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Norman Foster, written by Samuel G. Engel and Hal Long, and starring Cesar Romero, Jean Rogers, Chris-Pin Martin, Minor Watson, Stanley Fields and Nigel De Brulier. It was release ...

'' (1940) as Memphis - The Cook (uncredited) * '' Star Dust'' (1940) as George, Dining Car Steward (uncredited) * ''

Girl in 313 ''Girl in 313'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Ricardo Cortez and written by Barry Trivers and M. Clay Adams. The film stars Florence Rice, Kent Taylor, Lionel Atwill, Kay Aldridge, Mary Treen and Jack Carson. The film was released o ...

'' (1940) as Porter * '' On the Spot'' (1940) as Jefferson White * ''

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

'' (1940) (uncredited) * ''

Pier 13 ''Pier 13'' is a 1940 American mystery film directed by Eugene Forde and starring Lynn Bari, Lloyd Nolan and Joan Valerie.Schlossheimer p.330 It is a remake of the 1932 film '' Me and My Gal'' with Spencer Tracy and Joan Bennett in which a wat ...

'' (1940) as Sam - Elevator Operator (uncredited) * '' Laughing at Danger'' (1940) as Jefferson * '' Up in the Air'' (1940) as Jeff * ''

While Thousands Cheer ''While Thousands Cheer'' is a lost American film released in 1940. Leo C. Popkin directed. It was the only football-themed film with an African American lead character for decades. It starred Kenny Washington, a football star from UCLA who wen ...

'' (1940) as Nash * '' Drums of the Desert'' (1940) as Sergeant 'Blue' Williams * ''

Four Shall Die ''Four Shall Die'' is a 1940 American supernatural crime film directed by William Beaudine. It features Dorothy Dandridge in her first credited film role. Cast * Niel Webster as Pierre Touissant * Mantan Moreland as Beefus, Touissant's Chauf ...

'' (1940) as Beefus - Touissant's Chauffeur * ''

Lady from Louisiana ''Lady from Louisiana'' is a 1941 American Western film starring John Wayne and Ona Munson. It was produced and directed by Bernard Vorhaus. The Louisiana State Lottery Company organizes a lottery in 1890s New Orleans, with lottery funds used ...

'' (1941) as Servant (uncredited) * '' You're Out of Luck'' (1941) as Jeff Jefferson * ''

Sleepers West ''Sleepers West'' is a 1941 American mystery drama film directed by Eugene Forde and starring Lloyd Nolan, Lynn Bari and Mary Beth Hughes. This second entry in 20th Century-Fox's ''Michael Shayne'' series was a remake of the 1934 Fox romanti ...

'' (1941) as Porter (uncredited) * ''

Footlight Fever ''Footlight Fever'' is a 1941 sequel to the 1940 comedy '' Curtain Call'', with Alan Mowbray and Donald MacBride. Plot Alan Mowbray and Donald MacBride reprise their roles as theatrical producers Donald Avery and Geoffrey 'Jeff' Crandall. This ti ...

'' (1941) as Willie Hamsure - Elevator Operator (uncredited) * ''

Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery ''Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery'' is a 1941 American mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Eric Taylor. It is based on the 1939 play ''The Three Scratches'' by Ellery Queen. The film stars Ralph Bellamy, Margaret Lindsay, Ch ...

'' (1941) as Roy * ''

Sign of the Wolf ''Sign of the Wolf'' is a 1941 American adventure film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Elizabeth Sutphin and Edmond Kelso. The film stars Michael Whalen, Grace Bradley, Darryl Hickman, Mantan Moreland, Louise Beavers and Wade Cros ...

'' (1941) as Ben * ''

'' (1941) as Schenectady Jones * ''

King of the Zombies ''King of the Zombies'' is a 1941 American zombie comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and starring Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury, and Mantan Moreland. The film was produced by Monogram Pictures, and was typical of its B films produced by the ...

'' (1941) as Jeff * ''

Hello, Sucker ''Hello, Sucker'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and written by Maurice Leo and Paul Gerard Smith. The film stars Hugh Herbert, Tom Brown, Peggy Moran, Lewis Howard, June Storey, Walter Catlett and Robert Emmett ...

'' (1941) as Elevator Boy * ''

Bachelor Daddy ''Bachelor Daddy'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Harold Young and written by Robert Lees and Frederic I. Rinaldo. The film stars Baby Sandy, Edward Everett Horton, Donald Woods, Raymond Walburn, Evelyn Ankers, Kathryn Adams Doty, ...

'' (1941) as Club Janitor (uncredited) * '' The Gang's All Here'' (1941) as Jefferson 'Jeff' Smith * '' Cracked Nuts'' (1941) as Burgess * ''

Accent on Love ''Accent on Love'' is a 1941 American drama film directed and filmed by Ray McCarey and written by John Larkin. The film stars George Montgomery, Osa Massen, J. Carrol Naish, Cobina Wright, Stanley Clements and Minerva Urecal. It was released ...

'' (1941) as Prisoner in Courtroom (uncredited) * '' Dressed to Kill'' (1941) as Rusty * ''

World Premiere A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition. A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its firs ...

'' (1941) as Train Porter (uncredited) * ''

Let's Go Collegiate ''Let's Go Collegiate'' is a 1941 American musical comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and produced by Monogram Pictures. It was released as ''Farewell to Fame'' in the United Kingdom. Plot summary Frankie (Frankie Darro) is the coxswain o ...

'' (1941) as Jeff * ''

It Started with Eve ''It Started with Eve'' is a 1941 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin, Robert Cummings, and Charles Laughton. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Music Score (Charles Previ ...

'' (1941) as Railway Porter (uncredited) * ''

Birth of the Blues ''Birth of the Blues'' is a 1941 American musical film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Bing Crosby, Mary Martin and Brian Donlevy. The plot loosely follows the origins and breakthrough success of the Original Dixieland Jass Band i ...

'' (1941) as Black Trumpet Player (uncredited) * ''

Marry the Boss's Daughter ''Marry the Boss's Daughter'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Thornton Freeland and written by Jack Andrews. The film stars Brenda Joyce, Bruce Edwards, George Barbier, Hardie Albright, Ludwig Stössel and Bodil Rosing. The film was ...

'' (1941) as Cook (uncredited) * ''

Up Jumped the Devil ''Up Jumped the Devil'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring Mantan Moreland. Plot Washington and Jefferson are two criminals who are just released from prison. They look for jobs to avoid being arrested for ...

'' (1941) as Washington * ''

Freckles Comes Home ''Freckles Comes Home'' is a 1942 American film directed by Jean Yarbrough based on the novel by Jeannette Stratton-Porter that was a sequel to '' Freckles'' by her mother Gene Stratton-Porter. Plot summary Freckles Winslow (Johnny Downs) is o ...

'' (1942) as Jeff - the Hotel Porter * '' Treat 'Em Rough'' (1942) as 'Snake-Eyes' * ''

Four Jacks and a Jill Four Jacks and a Jill is a South African folk rock ensemble. Career They originally formed in 1964 without a "Jill" under the name "The Nevadas". Subsequently, they became the first group in South Africa to wear their hair long and they changed ...

'' (1942) as Cicero - Wash Room Attendant (uncredited) * ''

Law of the Jungle "The law of the jungle" (also called jungle law) is an expression that has come to describe a scenario where "anything goes". The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' defines the Law of the Jungle as "''the code of survival in jungle life'', now usual ...

'' (1942) as Jefferson 'Jeff' Jones * ''

'' (1942) as Washington * ''

Professor Creeps ''Professor Creeps'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring Mantan Moreland. Cast * Mantan Moreland as Washington * F. E. Miller as Jefferson * Arthur Ray as Professor Whackingham Creeps * Florence O'Brien a ...

'' (1942) as Washington * ''

The Strange Case of Doctor Rx ''The Strange Case of Doctor Rx'' is a 1942 black-and-white murder mystery/ horror B film by Universal Studios directed by William Nigh and starring Patric Knowles, Lionel Atwill, Anne Gwynne, Ray "Crash" Corrigan and Samuel S. Hinds. Although ...

'' (1942) as Horatio B.Fitz Washington * ''

Tarzan's New York Adventure ''Tarzan's New York Adventure'' (also known as ''Tarzan Against the World'') is a 1942 black-and-white adventure film from Metro Goldwyn Mayer, produced by Frederick Stephani, directed by Richard Thorpe, that stars Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen ...

'' (1942) as Sam, the Nightclub Janitor (uncredited) * ''

Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost ''Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins and written by Charles E. Roberts and Monte Brice. It is the sequel to the 1942 film '' Mexican Spitfire at Sea''. The film stars Lupe Vélez, Leon Erro ...

'' (1942) as Lightnin' * ''

Footlight Serenade ''Footlight Serenade'' is a 1942 musical comedy film directed by Gregory Ratoff, starring Betty Grable, John Payne, and Victor Mature. Plot Tommy Lundy is an arrogant champion boxer who is hired by Broadway promoter Bruce McKay to star in a sta ...

'' (1942) as Amos. Tommy's Dresser * '' A-Haunting We Will Go'' (1942) as Porter (uncredited) * ''

Phantom Killer The Texarkana Moonlight Murders, a term coined by the contemporary press, was a series of four unsolved serial murders and related violent crimes committed in and around the Texarkana region of Arkansas and Texas in the late winter and sprin ...

'' (1942) as Nicodemus * '' Girl Trouble'' (1942) as Edward * ''

Eyes in the Night ''Eyes in the Night'' is a 1942 American crime mystery directed by Fred Zinnemann, based on Baynard Kendrick's 1941 novel ''The Odor of Violets'' and starring Edward Arnold, Ann Harding and Donna Reed. The film was followed by a sequel (also ...

'' (1942) as Alistair * ''

The Palm Beach Story ''The Palm Beach Story'' is a 1942 screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, and starring Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Mary Astor and Rudy Vallée. Victor Young contributed the musical score, including a fast-paced variati ...

'' (1942) as Diner Waiter (uncredited) * ''

Andy Hardy's Double Life ''Andy Hardy's Double Life'' is a 1942 comedy film directed by George B. Seitz. It was the thirteenth installment of MGM's enormously popular Andy Hardy film series starring Mickey Rooney as the title character. It was the feature film debut ...

'' (1942) as Prentiss the Benedict Butler (uncredited) * '' It Comes Up Love'' (1943) as Janitor (uncredited) * ''

The Crime Smasher ''The Crime Smasher'' is a 1943 American crime comedy film directed by James Tinling and starring Edgar Kennedy, Richard Cromwell and Gale Storm.Tucker p.67 It is based on the Radio program ''Cosmo Jones'' featuring Frank Graham. The film's set ...

'' (1943) as Eustace Smith * '' Cabin in the Sky'' (1943) as First Idea Man * ''

Slightly Dangerous ''Slightly Dangerous'' is a 1943 American romantic comedy film starring Lana Turner and Robert Young. The screenplay concerns a bored young woman in a dead-end job who runs away to New York City and ends up impersonating the long-lost daughter of ...

'' (1943) as Waiter at Swade's (uncredited) * ''

He Hired the Boss ''He Hired the Boss'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Thomas Z. Loring and written by Irving Cummings Jr. and Ben Markson. The film stars Stuart Erwin, Evelyn Venable, Thurston Hall, Vivian Blaine, William T. Orr and Benny Bartlett. T ...

'' (1943) as Shoeshine Man (uncredited) * ''

Sarong Girl ''Sarong Girl'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Arthur Dreifuss and written by Charles R. Marion, Arthur Hoerl and Tim Ryan. The film stars Ann Corio, Tim Ryan, Irene Ryan, Mantan Moreland, William Henry, Damian O'Flynn and Johnnie ...

'' (1943) as Maxwell * '' Hit the Ice'' (1943) as Porter with Snowshoes (uncredited) * ''

We've Never Been Licked ''We've Never Been Licked'' (or ''Texas Aggies'', ''Texas to Tokyo'', and ''Fighting Command'') is a 1943 World War II propaganda film produced by Walter Wanger and released by Universal Pictures. Released in the UK under the title, ''Texas to To ...

'' (1943) as Willie * ''

Melody Parade ''Melody Parade'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by Arthur Dreifuss and written by Tim Ryan and Charles R. Marion. The film stars Mary Beth Hughes, Eddie Quillan, Tim Ryan, Irene Ryan, Mantan Moreland, Jerry Cooper and Armida. The f ...

'' (1943) as Skidmore * ''

Revenge of the Zombies ''Revenge of the Zombies'' is a 1943 horror film directed by Steve Sekely, starring John Carradine and Gale Storm. Dr. Max Heinrich von Altermann (John Carradine), is a mad scientist working to create a race of living dead warriors for the Third ...

'' (1943) as Jeff * ''

Hi'ya, Sailor ''Hi'ya, Sailor'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Stanley Roberts. The film stars Donald Woods, Elyse Knox, Eddie Quillan, Frank Jenks, Phyllis Brooks and Jerome Cowan. The film was released on October 8 ...

'' (1943) as Sam * '' You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith'' (1943) as Porter * ''

My Kingdom for a Cook ''My Kingdom for a Cook'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Richard Wallace, which stars Charles Coburn, Marguerite Chapman, and Bill Carter. Synopsis A visiting British emissary on a goodwill tour of the United States struggles to re ...

'' (1943) as Train Porter (uncredited) * '' Swing Fever'' (1943) as Woody, Nick's Valet (uncredited) * ''

She's for Me ''She's for Me'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by Reginald LeBorg and starring Grace McDonald and David Bruce. Plot Two attorneys are attracted to the same client Cast * Grace McDonald as Jan Lawton * David Bruce as Michael Ree ...

'' (1943) as Sam * ''

Chip Off the Old Block ''Chip Off the Old Block'' is 1944 American comedy musical film starring Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, and Ann Blyth. It was Blyth's film debut. The son of a strict Navy man, O'Connor falls in love with a girl from a performing family (Ann Bly ...

'' (1944) as Porter * '' Charlie Chan in the Secret Service'' (1944) as Birmingham Brown * ''

See Here, Private Hargrove ''See Here, Private Hargrove'' (1942) is a book by Marion Hargrove, about his experiences in U.S. Army basic training. Origin The author, a North Carolina native, was a correspondent for ''The Charlotte News'' prior to World War II. After he wa ...

'' (1944) as Porter on Train (uncredited) * '' Moon Over Las Vegas'' (1944) as Porter * ''

Pin-Up Girl A pin-up model (known as a pin-up girl for a female and less commonly male pin-up for a male) is a model whose mass-produced pictures see widespread appeal as part of popular culture. Pin-up models were variously glamour models, fashion models ...

'' (1944) as Red Cap #2 (uncredited) * '' This Is the Life'' (1944) as Porter (uncredited) * ''

The Chinese Cat ''The Chinese Cat'' (also titled ''Murder in the Funhouse'') is a 1944 mystery film starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan. Plot Mr. Manning is murdered in his study while the door is locked from the inside. Pol ...

'' (1944) as Birmingham Brown * ''

South of Dixie ''South of Dixie'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Clyde Bruckman. The film stars Anne Gwynne, David Bruce, Jerome Cowan, Ella Mae Morse, Joe Sawyer and Samuel S. Hinds. The film was released om June 23 ...

'' (1944) as The Porter * ''

Black Magic Black magic, also known as dark magic, has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for evil and selfish purposes, specifically the seven magical arts prohibited by canon law, as expounded by Johannes Hartlieb in 145 ...

'' (1944) as Birmingham Brown * ''

Mystery of the River Boat ''Mystery of the River Boat'' is a 1944 Universal movie serial directed by Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor. It co-starred Lyle Talbot, Robert Lowery and Mantan Moreland. Cast * Robert Lowery as Steve Langtry * Eddie Quillan as Jug Jenks * Ma ...

'' (1944, serial) as Napoleon the ship steerer * ''

'' (1944) as Alabam * ''

The Jade Mask ''The Jade Mask'' is a 1945 film featuring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan and the only appearance of Number Four Son, Eddie Chan, played by Edwin Luke, the real-life younger brother of Keye Luke, who had depicted Number One Son throughout the 1930s ...

'' (1945) as Birmingham Brown * ''

'' (1945) as Birmingham Brown * '' The Shanghai Cobra'' (1945) as Birmingham Brown * ''

Captain Tugboat Annie ''Captain Tugboat Annie'' is a 1945 second sequel to the classic ''Tugboat Annie'' (1933), this time starring Jane Darwell as Annie and Edgar Kennedy as Horatio Bullwinkle. The movie was directed by Phil Rosen, and is also known as ''Tugboat Ann ...

'' (1945) as Pinto * ''

She Wouldn't Say Yes ''She Wouldn't Say Yes'' is a 1945 screwball comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and starring Rosalind Russell and Lee Bowman. Plot A psychiatrist, Dr. Susan Lane, is leaving a military hospital after spending two weeks working with patients ...

'' (1945) as porter (uncredited) * ''

The Spider The Spider is an American pulp-magazine hero of the 1930s and 1940s. The character was created by editor Harry Steeger and written by a variety of authors for 118 monthly issues of '' The Spider'' from 1933 to 1943. A 119th Spider novel manuscr ...

'' (1945) as Henry * ''

Mantan Messes Up Mantan Messes Up is a film produced in 1946 in the United States. It stars Mantan Moreland. Sam Newfield directed. The film was produced by Lucky Star Production Company. It was advertised as having an "All Colored Cast". The Museum of the Moving ...

'' (1946) as Mantan * ''

Riverboat Rhythm ''Riverboat Rhythm'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins and written by Charles E. Roberts. The film stars Leon Errol, Glenn Vernon, Walter Catlett, Joan Newton, Marc Cramer, and Jonathan Hale. The film was released on Febr ...

'' (1946) as Mantan * '' Dark Alibi'' (1946) as Birmingham Brown * ''

Shadows Over Chinatown ''Shadows Over Chinatown'' is a 1946 film directed by Terry O. Morse. It is the second to last film featuring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan. Plot Chan investigates a murder for profit racket in San Francisco. Toller was in poor health during ...

'' (1946) as Birmingham Brown * '' The Trap'' (1946) as Birmingham Brown * '' Tall, Tan, and Terrific'' (1946) as Mantan Moreland * '' Mantan Runs for Mayor'' (1946) * '' The Chinese Ring'' (1947) as Birmingham Brown * '' Ebony Parade'' (1947) as Mantan * ''

What a Guy What or WHAT may refer to: * What, an interrogative pronoun and adverb * "What?", one of the Five Ws used in journalism Film and television * ''What!'' (film) or ''The Whip and the Body'', a 1963 Italian film directed by Mario Bava * '' What ...

'' (1947) *'' The Dreamer'' (1947) * ''

Docks of New Orleans ''Docks of New Orleans'' is a 1948 American mystery film directed by Derwin Abrahams and starring Roland Winters, Virginia Dale and Mantan Moreland.Drew p.77 It featured Winters in his second appearance as Charlie Chan, having replaced Sidney Tol ...

'' (1948) as Birmingham Brown * ''

Best Man Wins ''Best Man Wins'' is a 1948 American historical drama film directed by John Sturges and starring Edgar Buchanan, Anna Lee and Robert Shayne. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. It it based on the story ''The Celebrated Jumping F ...

'' (1948) as Ice Cream Vendor (uncredited) * ''

Shanghai Chest ''Shanghai Chest'' is a 1948 American film directed by William Beaudine and featuring Roland Winters in his third appearance as Charlie Chan. Plot As Victor Armstrong visits his uncle, Judge Wesley Armstrong, in San Francisco, he is knocked unc ...

'' (1948) as Birmingham Brown * '' The Golden Eye'' (1948) as Birmingham Brown * '' The Feathered Serpent'' (1948) as Birmingham Brown * ''

The Return of Mandy's Husband ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1948) * '' She's Too Mean for Me'' (1948) * '' Come On, Cowboy!'' (1948) * '' Sky Dragon'' (1949) as Birmingham Brown * '' Rock 'n' Roll Revue'' (1955) as Himself * '' Basin Street Revue'' (1956) as Himself * '' The Patsy'' (1964) as Barbershop Porter (uncredited) * ''

'' (filmed in 1964, released in 1968) as Messenger * ''

Alvarez Kelly ''Alvarez Kelly'' is a 1966 American Western (genre), Western film set in the American Civil War directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring William Holden and Richard Widmark. The picture was based on the historic Beefsteak Raid of September 1864 ...

'' (1966) as Bartender (uncredited) * '' Enter Laughing'' (1967) as Subway Rider * ''

The Comic ''The Comic'' is a 1969 American Pathécolor comedy-drama film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Carl Reiner. It stars Dick Van Dyke as Billy Bright (which was the original title of the film), Michele Lee as Bright's love interest, and R ...

'' (1969) as Passerby at Billy's Funeral (uncredited) * '' Watermelon Man'' (1970) as counterman * '' The Biscuit Eater'' (1972) as Waiter * '' The Young Nurses'' (1973) as Old man (final film role) ;Television * 1957 ''

Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City-based greeting card company. The longest-running prime-time series in t ...

'' (1 episode) * 1969 ''

Julia Julia is usually a feminine given name. It is a Latinate feminine form of the name Julio and Julius. (For further details on etymology, see the Wiktionary entry "Julius".) The given name ''Julia'' had been in use throughout Late Antiquity (e.g ...

'' (1 episode) * 1969 ''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'' (1 episode) * 1970 ''

The Bill Cosby Show ''The Bill Cosby Show'' is an American sitcom television series, that aired for two seasons on NBC's Sunday night schedule from 1969 until 1971, under the sponsorship of Procter & Gamble. There were 52 episodes made in the series. It marked Bill ...

'' (1 episode) * 1970 ''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the stre ...

'' (1 episode)

Recordings

*''That Ain't My Finger'' (Laff) *''Elsie's Sportin' House'' (Laff) *''Tribute to the Man'' (Laff)

Cultural references

Robert B. Parker Robert Brown Parker (September 17, 1932 – January 18, 2010) was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 novels written about the fictional private detective Spenser. AB ...

makes allusions to Moreland in ''A Catskill Eagle'' and ''

Hush Money Hush money is a term for an arrangement in which one person or party offers another an attractive sum of money or other enticement, in exchange for remaining silent about some illegal, stigmatized, or shameful behavior, action, or other fact abo ...

'', both being part of his long-running series of Spenser novels.Parker, Robert B. ''Hush Money,'' page 12, New York: Putnam ''

Bamboozled ''Bamboozled'' is a 2000 American satirical dark comedy-drama film written and directed by Spike Lee about a modern televised minstrel show featuring black actors donning blackface makeup and the resulting violent fallout from the show's success ...

'', a 2000 film directed by

Spike Lee Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. He made his directorial debut ...

, centers around a fictional television show called ''Mantan: The New Millennium Minstrel Show'' featuring stereotypes of minstrel theater and starring a tap dancing character, played by

Savion Glover Savion Glover (born November 19, 1973) is an American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer. Early life The youngest of three sons, Glover was born to a white father, who left the family before he was born, and a black mother. Glover's great grand ...

, named Mantan. "B-Boys Makin with the Freak Freak", a song by

Beastie Boys Beastie Boys were an American rap rock group from New York City, formed in 1978. The group was composed of Mike D, Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam Yauch, Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass), and Ad-Rock, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (voca ...

featured on their 1994 album ''

Ill Communication ''Ill Communication'' is the fourth studio album by American hip-hop group Beastie Boys, released by Grand Royal Records on May 31, 1994. Co-produced by Beastie Boys and Mario Caldato, Jr., it is among the band's most varied releases, drawing from ...

'', samples a line from Mantan's comedy album ''That Ain't My Finger'', referencing a bit about a party and mashed potatoes.

Footnotes

Notes

References

External links

* * *
Mantan Moreland and Ben Carter perform their "Incomplete Sentences" routine in this YouTube clip
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Moreland, Mantan 1902 births 1973 deaths Male actors from Louisiana African-American male actors American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors Burials at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery People from Monroe, Louisiana Vaudeville performers 20th-century American male actors 20th-century African-American people